Bears Report: Too many penalties

Missouri State drew more yellow flags than a NASCAR race on a super speedway. Coach Dave Steckel left no doubt after where the buck stopped.

“Embarrassing,” Steckel said of 10 penalties for 99 yards on the Bears in the 21-13 victory over Chadron State. The visiting Eagles had nine penalties for 75 yards.

“Chadron is a very good football team. We gave them another football field” in yards, Steckel said. “That’s absolutely poor coaching and that’s my responsibility.

“We have to coach discipline better and more attention to detail. When you have that many penalties, that finger is pointed to me.”

Several of the penalties on the Bears were of the major variety — a horse-collar tackle, a pass interference and three illegal blocks.

Added linebacker Dylan Cole: “We don’t want that many penalties and we’ll get that fixed. Like coach ‘Stec’ said, you take away those penalties and it could have been a completely different game.”

Just short

The home-opening crowd of 17,835 was 551 away from the stadium record of 18,386 set one year ago in the first home game against North Dakota.

Bringing ’em down

Dylan Cole led the Bears with 11 tackles, including a team-high four for lost yards. Cecil Bratton had seven tackles with Vashon Landers and Anthony Upchurch making interceptions.

Here’s your receipt

Just like Missouri State gets a financial lift for playing up in competition level ($225,000 for games this season at each Memphis and Arkansas State) the Bears had to pay Chadron State, a Division II program, for the trip to Springfield. Chadron received $30,000 plus hotel rooms for two nights for making the 13-hour bus trip.

Up next

Missouri State wraps up its nonconference schedule with a 6 p.m. game next Saturday at Arkansas State. The Bears last played the Red Wolves in 1998, losing 28-24 in Jonesboro. Arkansas State has opened this season with games against top-25 teams Southern Cal and Missouri.